The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Juncus lomatophyllus

Etymology

Juncus: From the Latin jungere 'to tie or bind', the stems of some species being used to make cord (Johnson and Smith)

Common Name(s)

broad-leaved rush

Authority

Juncus lomatophyllus Sprengel

Family

Juncaceae

Brief Description

Leafy rush to 74 cm tall, leaves broad (to 1.5 cm wide), flattened often with pink base, with young leafy shoots at the base attached to creeping stems, with branched flowerheads made up of 3 to 12 clusters of dark-brown to black flowers/capsules (fruit).

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Rushes and Allied Plants

Distribution

Widespread and locally abundant in northern Westland.

Habitat

Wet pasture and a wide range of wet habitats.

Features

Tufted, grass-like perennial, with leafy offsets. Stems 15-75 cm high, > leaves. Leaves 6-15 mm wide, flat, of thin texture, tapering gradually from the wide base to a small fine point, bluish-green, occasionally reddish-tinged near margins and tips; sheaths red. Inflorescence 10-26 cm long, open, with many spreading branches. Flowers in clusters of 3-12 at tips of branches, clusters ± 10 mm diam. Tepals 3.5-4.5 mm long, ± equal. Stamens 6. Capsules c. 3 mm long, < tepals, narrow, acute, dark brown.

Similar Taxa

No other grass-leaved rushes has such large and wide leaves, perhaps the native J. planifolius is the most similar, but lacks the stoloniforous sward-forming growth habit and has much smaller (< 2.5 mm) capsules and flower clusters.

Flowering

Summer

Flower Colours

Black,Brown

Fruiting

Autumn

Year Naturalised

1969

Origin

South Africa

Reason for Introduction

Unknown, seed or soil contaminant.

Control Techniques

Rarely controlled, but can be controlled manually, mechanically or herbicidally depending on situation, susceptible to grazing.

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seed dispersed by animals, water or contaminated machinery.

This page last updated on 5 Jun 2014